Vacuum-valve.



' 'J. H. LINDSAY.

VACUUM VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1912.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

A ttorneys.

Inventor COLUMHIAALANOGRAPH cu, WASHINGTON, n. c.

JOHN H. LINDSAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VACUUM-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Application filed April 13, 1912. Serial No. 690,679.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. LINDSAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vacuum valves for heating radiators or coils, for permitting the free passage of water and air, but for restricting the escape of steam, and also for preventing the entrance of air into the coil, in the event the vacuum becomes broken or an air pump is not used.

The objects I have in view are to produce a valve of this type, which may be adjusted for different situations and which can be relied upon to always properly close, and which will operate without noise. These and further objects will more fully appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of radiators or coils, and the steam and vacuum connections thereof, showing a plurality of vacuum valves in position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, of one form of valve, embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is an end view, of the body and bridge, of the valve illustrated in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, of a modification.

In all of the views, like parts are designated by the same reference characters.

The valve illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 1 is inclosed within a casing 1, of suiiicient size to contain the valve and its supports. This casing has a threaded neck 2, for attach ment to the radiator or coil. It also has a threaded neck 3, for attachment to the vacuum riser. In situations in which a vacuum pump is not employed, the casing is so formed that it has an opening to the air, and the threaded neck 8 is not then employed. Within the valve casing 1, is the valve body 4. This valve body is conveniently made separate from the casing, and is secured thereto by screw threads, as shown. The valve body 4 consists of a pas sage 5, extending completely through it. On one side of the body, within the casing, is a valve seat 6. This seat is preferably flat and lies at right angles to the axis of the passage 5. In connection with the valve seat is a disk valve 7, this disk being considtached to the valve body.

erably larger than the diameter of the passage and preferably of the same diameter as the seat. The valve has a valve stem 8. In connection with the body is a perforated strainer 9, which lies within the threaded neck 2. The purpose of this strainer is to prevent sediment from entering the valve.

The valve described is attached to the radiators or coils in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. In this figure, three radiators 0r coils 10, are illustrated. The number of radiators employed depends upon the situation. In connection with the radiators is the usual steam riser 11, and the usual vacuum riser 12. Fig. 1 illustrates the boiler 13, for generation of steam, the air pump 14, connected with the vacuum riser 12, the feed pump 15, connected with the discharge of the vacuum pump, the hot well 16, for containing the supply of water delivered to it by the vacuum pump, and the separating tank 17, for separating the air from the water. The usual radiator valves 18 are employed for each coil or radiator. A reducing valve 19 is shown in the connections between the boiler and the steam riser. The air escape pipe 20' is connected to the separating tank 17 and the hot well 16. Any other suitable arrangement may be employed for the coils, provided they are arranged to take the steam from the steam riser and the steam is under control of the radiator valves, for each of the coils. The valves 1 are located on the discharge end of the coils, preferably at the bottom of each, so that the water of condensation may readily escape. Any source of steam supply may be employed, as from the exhaust of the engines in the building, as well as by means of a special boiler used solely for the pur pose of heating. When a vacuum pump is not employed, the vacuum riser and the appurtenances connected thereto may be omitted. The purpose of the valve 1 is to allow the free escape of water from the radiators or coils,-also to, allow the escape of air, but to restrict the escape of steam to a negligible quantity. The valve also is adapted to shut tight, in the event that the vacuum is broken, or a vacuum pump is not used.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 1, it will be seen that the stem 8, of the valve, is supported by means of a bridge 21. This bridge extends over the valve seat and is preferably at- This bridge supports a screw 22, and this screw is connected to the valve stem so as to limit the movement of the valve in relation to the seat. The screw is provided with a head 23, by means of which it may be rotated, and its longitudinal position adjusted. It is also provided with a lock nut 24, so that it will be retained in position after it has been ad justed.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the screw 22 is provided with a center opening 25. The valve stem lies within this opening, and the inner end of the screw engages with the disk valve to limit its extent of movement away from the seat. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the screw is somewhat shorter and has no center opening. The end of the screw, in this embodiment, engages with the free end of the valve stem and limits the extent of movement of the valve away from its seat. In this embodiment-- of the invention, the stem engages with the walls of an open ing, directly formed in the bridge. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4, the valve 7 is smaller than that shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and is provided with a supplemental disk 26, of greater diameter than the valve, so that the effective area of the valve is increased, and also for a further purpose to be described. The valve casing 1, is pro vided with a cover 27, preferably secured by screw threads, as shown, by means of which it may be removed. When removed, the valve and adjustment of the same may be readily accomplished. The screw 22 may be rotated, and the lock nut 24: adjusted, by removing the cover 27 and without removing the valve body from the casing or removing the bridge from the body.

The operation of the device is as follows: Steam being admitted to the radiators, and assuming that the vacuum pump is in operation and a vacuum of suflicient amount ex ists in the vacuum riser, the valve will be removed from its seat to the extent allowed by the position of the adjusting screw 22, and the air within the radiator will escape. Whatever water is in the radiator will also escape through the valve. When the radiator is completely filled with steam, the steam will escape through the opening be tween the valve and the valve seat. The area of opening between the valve and the valve seat increases from the passage 5 to the periphery of the valve. This produces a radial passage of constantly increasing area. The extent of expansion of the passage is increased by means of the supplemental disk illustrated in Fig. 4. The expansion of the steam, due to the shape of this radial passage, will impart a high ve locity to the steam. On account of its m's z'mrtz'oe the steam tends to retain the velocity at which it passes'through the passage 5.

As, however, the area of the radial passage between the seat and the valve increases toward the periphery of the latter, this velocity can only be kept up if the steam expands below the pressure and density of the air or vapor within the vacuum riser. A space of rarefied steam is, therefore, produced between the valve and the seat, against which the air or vapor within the vacuum riser presses, and this tends to hold the disk valve at a short distance away from the valve seat. The distance at which it is held, is considerably less than the position at which it is determined by the location of the screw 22. The amount of steam, therefore, which escapes is very little, and, in practice, I so proportion the area of the valve to the passage 5 that the escaping steam will be less than is required to prevent condensation; consequently, at intervals, water will be deposited within the radiator, and will escape through the valve. lVhen any water passes between the valve and the valve seat, owing to the greater weight of the latter, and its lower velocity, no area of reduced pressure will be formed between the valve and the seat, and consequently, the valve will open to the full extent allowed by the screw and will permit the free outlet of the water. This water will flow from the vacuum riser into the air pump, and will be passed, in due course, into the separating tank, thence into the hot well, and then will be returned to the boiler. While I believe that the apparatus operates upon the principle above stated, I am not certain that this is so. It is a fact that the valve does operate in the manner specified, permitting the air and water to freely escape, and allowing but a limited escape of steam.

By my invention I am enabled to construct vacuum valves of uniform type and employ them in various different situations, due to the construction of the building. I can adjust the position of the valve so that its maximum opening is such that it will always close or partly close when the steam is passing, and will not move so far away from its seat that it will not be drawn toward it by the partial vacuum caused by the passage of the steam through the radial passage.

At the same time, the valve can be adjusted so that it will accommodate different radiators on different floors, which are subjected to dilferent pressures and to different vacuums and will limit the lift of the valve to just what is required, or slightly more than is required, under the greatest demand. This adjustment can be done by adjusting the position of the screw 22, which. is readily reached by removing the cover 27 which, in ordinary practice, does not materially affect the vacuum in the riser. In

'ordinary practice this vacuum is equal to about 10 inches of mercury; consequently,

the difference in pressure on the two sides of the valve is enough to move it toward its seat when the steam is passing out.

I regard the feature of the center opening 25 in the screw 22 as very important, because, if any sediment accumulates on the valve stem, this sediment will pass out or will be forced out through the end of the opening opposite to that of the valve by the movement of the valve stem. This free escape of sediment'is facilitated by locating the valve in the position shown in Fig. 2. There can, therefore, be no sediment settling on the stem or in the screw, to throw the valve out of adjustment.

With my invention I produce an exceedingly simple device which will operate without noise and, at the same time, secure an efficient separation of the air and water from the steam.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the device will allow the valve being taken out for any purpose and being put back again without changing the adj ustment of the valve.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of my invention, together'with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that the invention can be carried out in other ways.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A vacuum valve for radiators, having a steam tight casing, a valve seat, a disk valve cooperatively related thereto, a stem for the valve, a bridge within the casing, a screw connected to the bridge and supported thereby, said screw having a center opening, the stem of the valve entering the center opening, the valve being limited in its position in relation to the valve seat by direct engagement with the screw, and means for locking the screw in position.

2. A vacuum valve for radiators, comprising a steam tight casing, a valve body within the casing, said valve body having a seat, a bridge within the casing, a disk valve in cooperative relation with the valve seat, said valve having a stem, a screw engaging directly with the valve and limiting the extent of movement of the valve away from the seat, said screw having a center opening, the stem of the valve entering said center opening, and a cover for the casing, said cover, when removed, exposing the screw so that the latter may be adjusted without demolishing the valve.

This specification signed and witnessed this eighth day of April, 1912.

JOHN H. LINDSAY.

Witnesses JOHN L. Lo'rsorr, GUSTAV A. SCHELLAOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

